When does it stop hurting?

[liquidclocks]

I love BF 15 day old DS2 and I'm so happy we have managed to do BF this far as DS1 didn't even manage one feed. The problem is that within a few days I had blisters and was bleeding each feed - lansinoh applied, latch checked and rechecked, nipple shields useless, and two weeks later I'm still REALLY sore!

At the moment I'm expressing half the feeds and giving them by bottle (no confusion whatsoever - he's just interested in whatever the milk comes from!) which is fine but I physically recoil at the thought of the next 'real' BF. If it's only going to last a few more weeks I think I can manage but if not...

So when can I expect it to get better or does it ever?

[earthtomummy]

hi liquidclocks. Totally empathise with you. I lost all the skin on my nippples (or pickles as DD calls them) when feeding all 3 of mine. Midwife recommended using a specialist burns dressing called Jelonet which did the trick. I cut s small square and put it over my nipple and used a bit of Vaseline underneath. It realy healed them quickly. When DD2 was born (my 3rd) I used it from the 1st feed and the problem didn't last nearly so long. I managed to get it on prescription but you can buy it fropm Boots and most pharmacies. Good luck.

[hewlettsdaughter]

Congrats on getting this far! I do remember the recoil though. It DOES get better, honest! Can I ask who checked the latch for you? It might be worth going to see a specialist breastfeeding counsellor to see if they think everything's all right.

[LIZS]

It should get better but am surprsied you are noo already feeling less sore. Can you have your latch/position checked again and perhaps check for signs of thrush ? I used Kamillosan and found it soothing as is leaving nipples exposed to air after a feed. Alternating positions can help relieve the pressure too.

[hewlettsdaughter]

Ah yes Lizs - have you tried the rugby hold, liquidclocks? (where you hold them at the side, under your arm).

[sassy]

With both of my dds, pain lasted about 5-6weeks.

Peaked at around 10-20 days, then settled to an agonising latch-on pain only.

Keep it up. You're doing great, and it is soooo worth it.

[liquidclocks]

The latch was checked by 3 different midwives when I was in hospital, but not since we came out. I've looked on all the leaflets though and it seems to be what's recommended - good mouthful of boob (though not whole areola but then I think mine's quite big), bottom bit covered more and his bottom lip turned out. Only thing that's concerned me is that no matter what I do he still seems to take in air?

I have Kamillosan but was told by midwife to use my lansinoh as she thought it was better and you don't have to wipe it off before each feed - is that true for kamillosan too - rubbing anything off HURTS!

[hewlettsdaughter]

Lansinoh was recommended to me for that reason.

Honestly, I would see a specialist, just so you can rule out any latching problems.

[liquidclocks]

I've tried the 'rugby hold'! - I find it comfortable to hold him as he's still tiny but I can't seem to get the latch right in that position. Tried him 'sitting' on my knee today and that seemed ok latch-wise so will do that again tomorrowjust to change the position a bit.

Boobs not helped today by getting totally overused when DS1 knicked DS2's bottle and drank it while I had my back turned!

[liquidclocks]

Thanks for the encouagement hewlettsdaughter - I do feel great having kept it up this far (it's much easier than FF was even with all this!) and I think I will go to my local BF drop in which is on Friday. I just know that some pain is normal (not like they say in the leaflets) but just wondering how long the really horrible stuff lasts for. Sassy - 5 to 6 weeks is bearable, that doesn't seem too far away!

earthtomummy - 'pickles' - feels like they might be after each feed!

[moondog]

Ah missed your birth announcement LC,but congratulations and well done for getting this far!

I know not really endorsed by some but I found nipple shields helped me through a very tricky patch.
Worth a try?

Had someone told me that eating geraniums and applying turmeric to my arse would have helped with b/feeding,there was a long stage when I really would have given it a whirl.

[evilstepmom]

hi there and well done for not giving up!please please persevere, it will stop hurting and you are really doing the best thing for your baby liberal and regular application of nipple cream and the softest breast pads money could buy did it for me. it really is horrible when it hurts, i know, but grit your teeth, look at your baby and know that he loves it. trying to remember but think it took bout 3 weeks maybe to be pain free?
keep going

[MissyBabee]

hi liquidclocks,

for me too the pain lasted about 6 weeks. all the books say do it for 2-3 weeks and then it's all downhill - wasn't true for me. it wasn't so much the sore nipples, more that i had sharp pain as the milk came through at the beginning of each feed, was really painful but this stopped around 6 weeks. i'm still BF at 5 1/2 months and no pain at all (except when nosey decides to see what's going on on the other side of the room and keeps nipple in mouth when sharply turning head!).

i wasn't happy with the latching on until around 3-4 weeks. sounds a long time but it all went way too quickly...

good luck and keep it up!

[bluejelly]

LC I found the pain getting worse and worse for the first two weeks, I had been told by at least three midwives and a health visitor that my latch was fine. Blisters appeared and I was in agony and on verge of giving up, I rang la leche league and a counsellor came over turned out my latch was wrong. She showed me how to do it right virtually instant relief and I bf for nearly two years. If you can, get a bf counsellor to check your latch, it can make all the difference. Good luck

[mears]

here is a good link about latching

[mears]

here are good little videos which demonstrate proper latching on too. I suspect the latch is just not quite right Liquidclocks - well worth contacting breastfeeding counsellor. Just the slightest of adjustments can make all the difference. The pain will go pretty quickly once the latch is corrected.

Make sure he is facing you directly 'tummy to mummy' when you are feeding him. His head should not be turned out of line with his body.

Lansinoh is better than kamillosan for healing nipples.

Well done you for still feeding - migraines OK?

[liquidclocks]

Thanks for the links mears, will take a look at those now. So far so good with the migraines (thanks for remembering!) - none yet, ended up with amitriptyline and immigran and it's working a treat

Moondog - at your geraniums and turmeric!

[hewlettsdaughter]

How's it going liquidclocks?

[mears]

?

[determination]

You are probaly all sick of listening to this, but, my nipples were just about to fall off! they were so badly cracked and bleeding. I had tried Lasinoh and other organic nipple creams and ointments and although they did soothe them NONE of them actually healed me.

I resorted to importing Silverette from Italy, these are mini Sterling Silver healing cups which are worn between feeds and they COMPLETELY HEALED me within 30 hours. You can get them from here.. www.breastfeedingheaven.co.uk

[determination]

how you getting on Liquidclocks?

[Guapina]

Hi Liquidclocks,

My 1st eva message

I was the same as Sassy, it took a good 6 weeks before the pain died down, now 5 months and no pain. I had a few days where my nipples were cracked and bleed a bit (not as bad as yours sounds, you poor thing) I was told to air my nipples regularly, so I would have a bath after putting baby to bed and just be in my dressing gown to let my nipples dry naturally and then apply nipple cream (I used Kamillosan) and it seem to clear up in a couple of days. I hope it calms soon for you. You are doing brilliantly!!

[lori21]

I had loads of problems with sore nipples and thought I was loosing the end of one nipple at one point. I found that because I was so worried that it would hurt I was making the latching on more difficult. Because it was just the one side I was having the problem with I stopped bf on that side and expressed instead. Once it healed I started bf again and really persevered on getting the latch on right. I really struggled with bf but I am so glad I persevered. My advice would be to keep asking diffrent people for help until you find someone who gives you the help you need. Different midwives give different support which suits different people! I also rang the breastfeeding support helplines - they were great and listened to me through the tears.

You are doing fantastically well - keep it up

[liquidclocks]

Much improved since my last post - thanks for all the tips and advice. Unfortunately I may have jinxed myself telling Mears that I hadn't had any migraines yet as I got my first one since the birth on Friday and didn't make it to the BF support group.

However - I looked at all the latching links and have been making much more of an effort to check that the latch is spot on each time and the pain is getting less and less. The only thing is now that his seal doesn't seem too great and when he sucks too hard he takes in air and loses the good latch he had - then I have to detach him and start all over again - we're both getting very frustrated with this process but it's necessary as he's windy anyway (giving infacol) and can sick up most of a feed if we can't get it up - very annoying when you feel like you've just had your nipples on hot coals in order to give him the feed!

Any tips to help with this?

[determination]

What way are you burping him? i found the best way being over the shoulder.. i used to just hold dd there and she would burp herself.. purely because the posioning was perfect for letting the wind come up.

[lori21]

So glad to hear that things are getting better. Someone advised me to put the baby on their front over your knees. Don't know how good this is but maybe worth a go. My lo burbs himself in any position, including on the breast!